Akwa Ibom State Government Sponsors Post-#Cop21 Event in Lagos

Orlando, Florida, December 13, 2015 (Newswire.com) - ​​As global leaders and stakeholders concluded discussions and negotiations at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) in Paris, AKWA IBOM STATE is sponsoring the first Post #COP 21 Event. Tagged, Post #COP 21 Dialogue, at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos Nigeria, on Tuesday 15th December, 2015. The Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Mr. Udom Emmanuel will deliver a Keynote speech on Climate Solutions at the Post-COP 21 Dialogue, to showcase the state's milestones in climate change mitigation and adaptation, renewable energy, environmental protection, jobs creation, youth development and plans for growth to a strategic audience and comity of stakeholders. The Governor will also speak on the new face of Akwa-Ibom; Akwa-Ibom at #COP 21, the experience & follow up programmes of activities in Akwa Ibom State.

The Post COP21 Dialogue is also positioned to be the veritable platform to engage stakeholders and the youths in the Climate Action Process following the decisions at the just concluded United Nations Conference of Parties in Paris (COP21).

"We know the truth, that many nations have contributed little to climate change but will be the first to feel its most destructive effects. For some island nations, climate change is a threat to their very existence." - President Obama at #COP21 "There will also be more focus on energy efficiency measures and investment in renewable energy" - President Muhammadu Buhari, at #COP21

Juddie Passion, Head of Secretariat, ACES

The Conference of Parties (#COP):

The journey of active international climate change advocacy and political response began at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, where the ‘Rio Convention’ included the adoption of the UN Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This convention set out a framework for action aimed at stabilizing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to avoid “dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” The main objective of the United Nations Annual Conference of Parties (COP) is to review the Convention’s implementation.

Post #COP21 Dialogue:

In line with the global mandate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 13: “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts,” a national Post #COP21 Dialogue will hold at the Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Nigeria in December 15, 2015. The Africa Clean Energy Summit (ACES) and the Young Africans Leadership Initiative (YALI) are in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders. The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders launched by President Obama in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa.

THEME & OBJECTIVES:

The Role of Youth in Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation

The objectives of the Post-COP21 Dialogue include: To fulfill the 13th goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by building capacity and engaging the youths to take action on climate change mitigation and adaptation. To fulfill the mandate of #YALI Network and educate the youths on Climate Change in non-technical terms. The Post #COP21 Dialogue is also positioned to be the veritable platform to engage our youths in the Climate Action Process following the decisions at the ongoing United Nations Conference of Parties in Paris (#COP21).

AFRICA CLEAN ENERGY SUMMIT - #ACES

The Africa Clean Energy Summit is positioned to be one of the world's foremost annual climate solution events in Africa, dedicated to advancing green cities, energy efficiency and clean technologies in Africa. #ACES brings together decision makers, policy makers, industry leaders, investors, experts and media around the world to explore and further understand the challenges and opportunities that arise from Clean Energy solutions; Clean Energy and Security, Defense, Health, Buildings, Agriculture, Power, Homes, Transportation, Education and many more.

CLIMATE CHANGE

#Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people, communities and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow. People are experiencing the significant impacts of climate change, which include changing weather patterns, rising sea level, and more extreme weather events. The greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are driving climate change and continue to rise. They are now at their highest levels in history. Without action, the world’s average surface temperature is projected to rise over the 21st century and is likely to surpass 3 degrees Celsius this century—with some areas of the world expected to warm even more. The poorest and most vulnerable people are being affected the most.

Affordable, scalable solutions are now available to enable countries to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient economies. The pace of change is quickening as more people are turning to renewable energy and a range of other measures that will reduce emissions and increase adaptation efforts.

But climate change is a global challenge that does not respect national borders. Emissions anywhere affect people everywhere. It is an issue that requires solutions that need to be coordinated at the international level and it requires international cooperation to help developing countries move toward a low-carbon economy. To address climate change, countries are working to adopt a global agreement in Paris this December.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change we know:

1.      From 1880 to 2012, average global temperature increased by 0.85°C. To put this into perspective, for each 1 degree of temperature increase, grain yields decline by about 5 per cent. Maize, wheat and other major crops have experienced significant yield reductions at the global level of 40 megatons per year between 1981 and 2002 due to a warmer climate.

2.      Oceans have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished and sea level has risen. From 1901 to 2010, the global average sea level rose by 19 cm as oceans expanded due to warming and ice melted. The Arctic’s sea ice extent has shrunk in every successive decade since 1979, with 1.07 million km² of ice loss every decade

3.      Given current concentrations and on-going emissions of greenhouse gases, it is likely that by the end of this century, the increase in global temperature will exceed 1.5°C compared to 1850 to 1900 for all but one scenario. The world’s oceans will warm and ice melt will continue. Average sea level rise is predicted as 24 – 30cm by 2065 and 40-63cm by 2100. Most aspects of climate change will persist for many centuries even if emissions are stopped

4.      Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) have increased by almost 50 per cent since 1990

5.      Emissions grew more quickly between 2000 and 2010 than in each of the three previous decades

6.      It is still possible, using a wide array of technological measures and changes in behaviour, to limit the increase in global mean temperature to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels

7.      Major institutional and technological change will give a better than even chance that global warming will not exceed this threshold

Date: December 15, 2015

Venue: #Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Mobolaji Bank Anthony, Lagos, Nigeria

Time: 9:00AM

DISCUSSIONS:

1.     DELIBERATIONS FROM #COP21

2.     THE IMPACTS OF #COP21 ON AFRICA

3.     THE NEW FACE OF AKWA IBOM – CLIMATE SOLUTIONS IN ACTION / AKWA IBOM AT COP21 – THE EXPERIENCE & FOLLOW UP PROGRAMMES OF ACTIVITIES IN UYO AKWA IBOM

4.     THE IMPACTS OF #COP21 ON WOMEN & CHILDREN

5.     THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION & ADAPTATION

6.     UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE CHANGE; (#YALILearns event in support of #YALIGoesGreen, a Network-wide initiative to spur climate change awareness and action)

7.     CLIMATE SOLUTIONS / CARBON CREDITS/ CARBON PRICE/REDD+

8.     CLIMATE CHANGE & PUBLIC HEALTH

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

1.     INCORPORATION OF YALI NETWORK'S #YALIGOESGREEN #YALILEARNS

2.     PRESENTATION OF PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENT IN CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION & ADAPTATION NETWORK STRATEGIC ROADMAP

3.     GREEN TALENT AFRICA HUNT ROADMAP

4.     AFRICA CLEAN ENERGY SUMMIT 2016 MEDIA CHAT

AKWA IBOM STATE:

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has commended the people of the state for keeping faith with the administration assuring that the divine mandate entrusted him is in safe hand and is yielding the fruits of industrialization, wealth creation, political inclusion, infrastructural consolidation and job creation. Emmanuel made the commendation in a state wide broadcast tagged, “Let Us March to Greatness”, to mark the sixth months of his administration in the state.

With a strong passion for a better deal for the good people of Akwa Ibom State and political will to deliver on campaign promises, the Emmanuel administration has made an impressive score card in industrialization and infrastructural development and the reactivation of industries. The state is now experiencing regular electricity, the flow of pipe borne water, and the revamping of the health care sector, construction of roads, bridges, drainage systems, and training of youths in agriculture, photography, film production, Information and communication technology ICT and in the power sector.